The alleged threats and intimidation being faced by Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Ushie Uguamaye, after her viral TikTok video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s government over escalating economic hardship, has been condemned by Amnesty International.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the human rights organisation noted that Uguamaye was well within her rights to express her frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions and condemned in strong terms the reported threats from NYSC officials against the Corp Member.
“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should prioritise addressing the country’s economic woes,” Amnesty International said in the statement.
The aggrieved Youth Corp Member. had lamented how the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme has been less beneficial to her, having had to spend more than the allowance she receives.
“If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government. I just want to say to our president, I don’t know if there is any other president that is as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president.
“So, I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. It’s just like every single week, prices keep increasing. I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up? Why am I going to get a crate of eggs and I’m told it costs N6,500? It doesn’t make any sense that eggs would cost that much. I literally remember when eggs cost N800. I am so overwhelmed because this is the first time I’ve stayed out of my family house.
“After I left the supermarket, I got home, and the security and NEPA bills have skyrocketed, doubling in price. It is insane. I can’t keep up with these bills. Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills. The crazy thing is, you want to go out with your friend, and Uber is N25,000. Why are things so expensive?
“To make it worse, Lagos stinks. Everywhere smells. What is the government doing about the smell? Being an NYSC Corper, there is nothing so beneficial about this scheme. The money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us. We should start calling out the government.”
Uguamaye alleged that shortly after the video went viral, she began receiving threats, purportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the content.
She then took to Instagram to express fears for her safety, saying that her personal details had been leaked and she was being pressured to report to the NYSC office.
“Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC Board to stop speaking on this issue. Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government, starting with the NYSC Board,” she said.
Amnesty International’s statement also accused the Nigerian authorities of attempting to silence dissenting voices rather than addressing citizens’ economic grievances.
The group said Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions.
“Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the statement added.
The controversy has sparked a national debate on free speech and the role of the NYSC in suppressing public criticism.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to demand accountability, with the hashtag #ProtectRaye gaining traction
Reacting to the alleged threat, on his X handle, skit maker, Mr. Macaroni warned NYSC management against intimidating the female corps member.
He wrote: “To the DG, Coordinators and every official of the NYSC!!! You cannot threaten, intimidate or victimize any corper for expressing their view on the performance of the president. They are citizens with rights! The president is in office to serve the people and every Nigerian, Corper or not has the right to hold their Leaders accountable!!!”
Also, publisher and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Sowore said the corps member stated a fact, not an insult. He added that NYSC was no longer serving its purpose.
“Saying that Bola Tinubu is a terrible person/’president’ is not an insult; it is a statement of fact. NYSC has outlived its usefulness, if it was ever helpful at all, considering its deceptive origin and outright corrupt nature,” he wrote on his X.
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